SEAN Dyche has laughed off suggestions from a former teammate that he used to eat worms before training.

Dyche's former Bristol City teammate Soren Andersen suggested on a Danish football podcast that the Burnley boss used to chew on worms and that was a contributing factor to his gravelly voice.

Dyche was questioned on the story during his press conference ahead of Manchester United's trip to Turf Moor this weekend and explained Andersen had got the wrong end of a familiar training ground prank, one in which no worms were eaten.

"I also smoke exhaust pipes. I have gravel for breakfast. Those three combined often are the things that keep this voice sounding how it is. It’s fair to say I didn’t actually eat the worms," Dyche said.

"It was a bit of banter I used to have - I’ve done it here and Watford too - that you get a nice, big juicy worm hanging out of your mouth.

"Look as if you’re chewing it and then spit it out, wash your mouth with water. It was a bit of banter than Soren has probably taking it a bit too far, he was probably turning away at that moment. He’s a good lad.

"For the record I definitely don't eat worms and I never did."